Acetylene-gas apparatus.



No. 638,777. Patented Dec. I2, 1899.

M. H. VINKLE.

ACETYLENE GAS APPARATUS.

(Application filed Oct. 19, 1898.)

(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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2%, 0 [01m ML f I M meme/ 8 No. 638,777. Patented m. l2, I899. m. H. VINKLE.

AGETYLENE GAS APPARATUS.

(Application filed Oct. 19, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Mqdel.)

73 wwwwlioz Mawji NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAHLON H. 'VINKLE, or OAKES, NORTH DAKOTA.

ACETYLEN E-GAS APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 638,777, dated December 12, 1899.

Application filed 0etoberl9, 1898. Serial No. 694,007. (No model.)

To (all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MAHLoN H. VINKLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakes, in the county of Dickey and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improved apparatus for the manufacture of acetylene gas; and its primary purpose is to provide an apparatus of this character with means for automatically regulating the generation of gas with relation to the amount required for use, so that all waste incident to storing a large quantity of gas will be avoided.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the gas is conducted directly from the generator and is cooled, washed, and thereby purified before passing to the burner-supply pipes.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for precipitating water or moisture from the gas-conducting coil within the tank, thus avoiding gumming of the pipes and burners and rendering the gas dry and clean.

Other objects of the invention, as well as the characteristic features of construction of the apparatus, will be fully described herein-' after and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of an apparatus embodying the invention, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same.

The reference-numeral 1 designates a cylindrical tank comprising a bottom 2 and double walls 3 and 4: and adapted to contain water, both within the space 5, formed by its inner wall 3, and the space 6 between the walls 3 and 4. An inverted floating tank 7 extends down between the walls 3 and 4 of the Watertank 1 and is adapted to rise and fall in the manner well understood in this art, its vertical movement being guided by uprights 8, rising from the tank 1, and pulleys 9, supported upon suitable brackets 10 at the top of the tank 7. The lower end of the tank '7 is sealed by the water in the space 6.

Within the water-tank 1 is arrangeda coil of pipe 11, one end 12 of which is above the level of the water in the tank, while its other end 13 extends through the bottom of the tank and communicates with the burner-supply pipe 14.

15 designates the generator, consisting of a drum mounted upon a horizontal shaft 16, which is supported in bearings of a bracket 17, secured to or arranged adjacent to the tank 1. The outer side of the drum 15 is formed with a circular opening surrounded by an annular exteriorly-threaded flange 15. A cylindrical basket 18, of wire-netting, is inserted through the opening, its outer end resting within the flange 15 and adapted to be closed by an internally threaded cap 19, screwed upon the flange. This construction permits of the ready insertion and removal of the basket. The drum 15 is provided with a crank-arm 20, fixed to the inner end of the shaft 16 and connected loosely at its opposite end 21 to the lower end of a rod 22, which is loosely secured at its upper end to an arm 22 projecting from the floating tank 7.

23 designates ashort discharge-pipe secured removably by any suitable joint to the drum, and to the outer end of this short pipe is connected a flexible pipe 24, which communicates at its opposite end with a pipe 25, the lower end 26 of which enters the bottom of the tank 1 todeliver gas thereto from the generator.

The operation of the mechanism thus described is as follows: The drum 15 is partially filled with water, and the basket 18 is supplied with calcium carbid. The tank 1 is also supplied with sufficient Water to seal it, and there being no gas in the machine the floating tank 7 will be at its lowest point, (a suitable escape for air being provided,) and by means of the rod 22 and crank 20 the drum 15 is oscillated sufficiently to immerse the carbid contained in the basket 18 in the water of the drum, thus generating the gas, which flows through the pipes 24 and 25 into the tank 1, and thence upward through the water to the open end 12 of the coil of pipe and through this coil to the supply-pipe 14. After the supply pipe or pipes are filled the surplus gas rises within the floating tank 7 and is stored therein. The pressure of the gas thusstored will cause the tank 7 to rise gradually, and when it is sufficiently elevated the rod 22 and crank 20 will again oscillate the drum 15 (but in the opposite direction) until the carbid is out of contact with the water, thus causing the generation of gas to cease until the carbid shall have been reimmersed by the downward movement of the float-tank 7, which of course will occur by a consumption of the gas stored therein. It will be apparent, therefore, that while the apparatus iusn res the storing of sufficient gas to maintain a constant and steady supply to the burners it automatically shuts off the generation and the supply to the tanks when such supply is not required. The upward passage of the gas through the water serves to cool, cleanse, and purify the gas.

The lower end 12 of the coil is above the level of the water in the tank, and its location is such that any water that adheres to the coil is drained back into the tank, thus preventing gum ming of the pipes and resultingin the supply of dry clean gas to the burners. This I regard as an important feature of my invention, as I have found by experiments that it materially improves the quality of the gas and consequently the character of the light.

In lieu of the flexible pipe 24: a metal pipe with a swinging gas-joint may be used, which will permit the required movement of the drum 15.

Other detail changes might be resorted to without departing from my invention, the latter including all such modifications as may fall within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is 1. In a gas apparatus, the combination with a water-tank and an inverted float-tank, of a coil within the water-tank communicating at one end with the burner-supply pipe, a generator comprising an oscillating drum supported by a bracket at one side of the watertank and provided with an opening surrounded by a threaded flange and a perforated receptacle for calcium carbid supported within said opening; a cap for closing the opening, and means for oscillating the generator comprising a crank secured to the shaft of the generator-drum, and a rod secured at one end to said crank, and at its opposite end to an arm projecting from the float-tank.

2. In a gas apparatus, the combination with a water-tank and float-tank, of a generator comprising an oscillating drum provided at one end with an opening surrounded -by a threaded ring or flange, a perforated cylindrical basket projecting through said opening and a removable cap for closing said opening, and a connection between the generator and float-tank for oscillating said generator.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MAHLON H. VINKLE.

Vitnesses:

T. F. MARSHALL, H. O. MOCARTNEY. 

